Shoe-fastener



(No Model.)

B. COMPTON. SHOE PASTENER.

No. 557,053. Patented Mar. 24, 1896.

NITED STATES IATENT FFICE.

ELIZABETH COMPTON, OF CAMPGAYV, NEIV JERSEY.

SHOE-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 557,053, dated March 24, 1896.

Application filed November 29, 1895. Serial No. 570,3 70. (N0 modeLl To 00 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH COMPTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Campgaw, Bergen county, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my present invention is to provide a detachable shoe fastener or clasp of simple and durable construction, easily handled and operated, and which can be quickly attached to any shoe.

The invention consists in the improved shoe fastener or clasp and in the combina tion and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoe provided with my improved clasps Fig. 2, an enlarged top plan view of one of the clasps;' Fig. 3, an under side view of the male portion of the clasp; Fig. 4:, a detail view of the female portion thereof; and Fig. 5 an enlarged longitudinal central sectional view of the clasp when in use, only those portions of the shoe being shown which are necessary to fullyillustrate the nature of my said invention.

In said drawings, arepresents a shoe, and b b the side portions of the upper forming the instep-opening b, as clearly shown. -The side portions 1) and b are held together by a series of clasps c 0, arranged parallel with each other and at right angles to the instepopening b. Each of said clasps o combines a male and female part, as hereinafter described. The male part consists of a slight outwardly-curved shield or plate (Z, provided at or near each end with a series of parallel slots 6 e and ff, penetrating said shield and forming bridges e and f respectively. A spring-plate g is arranged on the under side of said shieldand is provided at one end with a series of prongs or fingers g, having notches or teeth g and adapted to pass through the slots 6 and e and over the bridge 6 of the shield cl and with its notched ends into and through one of the side sections Z) of the shoe, to which itis secured by said prongs, each of which for that purpose is doubled over or bent upon itself, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The other end of said spring-plate g is reduced in width and arranged through the slots f and f and over the bridge f and its free end is bent into a hook or loop 9 adapted to engage the eye or hook 71 of the female part 2' of the clasp. The female part 4. consists of the said eye or hook h and of a series of prongs or fingers h, projecting therefrom and having notched sides, as at 71 and adapted to be'inserted into and through the other section, 12 of the shoe and to be secured thereto by means of said prongs or fingers, each of which for that purpose is doubled over or bent upon itself, as clearly shown. On the outer side of the shield d is arranged a rosette or other ornament m, and it will be manifest that the said shield can be made as fancy as desired.

From the foregoing it can be seen that my improved fastener or clasp is of very simple construction and can be easily and readily attached to any shoe by merely inserting and securing the notched prongs g of the springplate g into and to sections 1) and the prongs h of the hook or eye h into and to the section 19 WVhen the shoes are worn out, the said clasps can be removed and used on a new pair.

I do not intend to limit myself to the precise construction shown and described, as various alterations can be made without changing the scope of my invention but What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A shoe fastener or clasp, consisting of a shield provided at or near'each end with a series of parallel slots forming a bridge, a spring-plate on the under side of said shield, a series of prongs on one end of said springplate and passing through the parallel slots and over the bridge on one end of the shield, a hook or loop at the other end of the springplate and passing through the parallel slots and over the bridge on the other end of the shield, and of a hook or eye, adapted to engage the hook or loop of the spring-plate, and a series of prongs on said hook or eye, all said parts, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A shoe fastener or clasp consisting of a shield provided at or near each end with a series of parallel slots forming a bridge, a spring-plate on the underside of said shield, a series of prongs on one end of said spring plate and passing through the parallel slots and over the bridge on one end of the shield, a series of notches or corrugations 011 each of said prongs, a hook or loop at the other end of the spring-plate and passing through the parallel slots and over the bridge on the other end of the shield, and of a hook or eye adapted to engage the hook or loop of the spring-plate and provided With a series of 20 notched or corrugated prongs, all said parts, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of 25 

